Beheadings in the Third Reich

[Paul53]

Picture of former DDR-chief Erich Honecker,made by the Gestapo after his arrest 1935.Honecker became later an inmate of Brandenburg/Gorden.

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[Paul53]

Building the actual execution site could be easily realized by a relative minor reconstruction of a row of cells and storage rooms in the cellar."" The rooms 191,192,193 situated in the cellar could be used.Room 191 can be used for the execution leader to read the verdict in, room 192 as execution room and 193 to keep the coffins in,prior to transport.The rooms 196 and 197 could be used for housing the condemned in(shortly before execution)the waterpipe for cleaning the execution site can be realized easily as there is a water supply in the corridor.For the drain however there is an extra provision needed,for the water to be pumped into the canal.Flowing the water directly into the canal is not possible while the floor of the execution room is lower than the canal level.
Draining off of the water with an electrical pump will pose no problems ,as the water of the inmates bath is already disposed of this way into the main canal.The pump that is used for clearing ther bath, can also be used for the execution room.The situation of the rooms indicated is fortunate, as they are away from prison activity.Also, the transport of the coffins can be carried out inconspicuosly""

[Paul53]

"" Only the housing of the convicts for an extended period will be difficult,because of the U-Haftanstalts overcrowdedness.The convicts condemned by courts from outside(Graz) are therefor only to be transported to Graz shortly before execution.""
In spite of every effort to speed up the building process,the execution site Graz was only ready in july 1943.""The execution site and the included extra rooms are in sofar ready, that Death sentences,either by beheading or hanging, can be carried out.To be constructed are:a ventilator,a pump,a signalling device,a telephone-these installations however can be installed without hindering execution activity,in the near future.I request to let the Herrn Reichminister der Justiz allow the chief Prosecuter with the Volksgerichtshof in Berlin, and the Prosecutors of those counties that are sending their convicts to here,to send those condemned no sooner than 1 to 2 days prior to execution,as the shortage of cells and the overcrowded situation do not allow an earlier transfer.The construction of security cells, that could not be realized with the necessary speed due to the shortage of building materials,will be continued.At this time,in this institution there are 26 death candidates,24 for High treason(two women among them)1 for rape,and 1 military prisoner for arsony""

[JTG]

A strange picture of a reusable coffin with a movable bottom. The text says that it was used in Werl correctional facility-while Werl is nowhere listed as execution site.

A re-usable coffin of a more rudimentary design was found at Lager Sylt on Alderney after the war; there are pictures, but I don't have any to hand - try After The Battle's "War in the Channel Islands then and Now", if interested.

Best

John Germain

[fredric]

A strange picture of a reusable coffin with a movable bottom. The text says that it was used in Werl correctional facility-while Werl is nowhere listed as execution site.

scan0089.jpg

I have seen this picture before...believe it was in a book about Brandenburg. Will verify where it also has been published to see if it is further identified. I did not associate it with "Werl".

[gordon anderson]

Das Heimweh des Walerjan Wrobel These are scenes from the film . A young boy will be ultimately sentenced to death by the fallbeil in Hamburg. Part 1 Left to right ( each row) He is taken to the prison through the gate and then to an inner courtyard and up to the receiving gate for prisoners . He waits in his cell and tries to feed a bird. He is taken to his trial and his family is there from the country. The judges pass the Death Sentence "TOD". Walerjan reacts in despair . (TO BE CONTINUED) Part 1 photos 1-4

[gordon anderson]

Part 1 photos 5-8

[gordon anderson]

Part 1 photo 9 THE VERDICT OF "DEATH" IS ANNOUNDED BY tHE JUDGE! Part 2 will follow tomorrow

[Pete26]

He waits in his cell and tries to feed a bird.

Incidentally, "Wrobel" means a "sparrow" in Polish. And sparrow is of course a bird.

[gordon anderson]

Part 2 photos 10-11-12-13 after trial to death cell and last meal -- only soup, bread.

[gordon anderson]

Part 3 photos 14-15-16-17 The guards and The Priest arrive. His shirt isremoved and he is schackled by the guards. it is time .....

[gordon anderson]

Part 4 photos 18-19-20-21. Into the ececution room , before the curtain , the curtain parts, the real Hamburg FALLBEIL.

[gordon anderson]

The End Part 5 photos 19-20-21-22 The Fallbeil (Note the Henker is shown for a moment in photo 21) , Waljeran is seized , and one last look. This last shot is the last freeze frame in the film . The screen then goes black and the sound of the fallbeil crashing down is heard. -------------------I hope you all are pleased.

[gordon anderson]

A Larger look at the Fallbeil

[Piotr1]

Very impressive photos.